Former health minister and advisor John Dalli said he would have never advised the government to strike a deal with Vitals Global Healthcare to take on the three State hospitals.

"From public information, I would have never advised them to make that deal," he said, adding that his conclusion was "obvious". He did not give further details. 

Mr Dalli was controversially appointed health advisor after quitting the European Commission in disgrace following allegations of bribery and corruption, which he denied. 

VGH eventually sold its 30-year concession to manage three State hospitals just 21 months into its operation, amid mounting financial difficulties. 

Read: The big sell-out: what we know about VGH deal

Asked about Steward Healthcare, which has now been tasked with running the three State hospitals, Mr Dalli said he did not know enough about the company to comment.

“I do not know about the deals that are in place,” he said.

Accuses MEPs of bias

Mr Dalli was speaking following a meeting with an MEP delegation that was in Malta to discuss a report outlining concerns on Malta's rule of law.

The former EU commissioner said he asked for a rectification of the rule of law report, adding that the MEPs had spoken to people who were “biased.”

In their report, MEPs asked whether Mr Dalli had an account at Pilatus Bank and if the FIAU had established whether he received money from secret company 17 Black in that account.

He confirmed the existence of the account at the Ta’ Xbiex based bank, but said the account was set up because he was giving financial advice to others.

"I wanted to see what services it offered... They said a lot of things which were untrue," Mr Dalli said.

He insisted it was "shameful" to report about people without checking things with them.

“They did not answer anything to what I said,” the former EU Commissioner said.

Read: John Dalli insists on meeting MEPs on rule of law mission

"The MEPs said they understood my position, and I gave them information on death threats and blackmail I had received.”

He said he passed on information of these threats to the police, adding that there were a lot of "terrorists" running around.

During a press conference, MEP David Casa slammed Mr Dalli’s comments during his meeting, and said the former minister had shown a "lack of respect" towards Ms Caruana Galizia during the meeting, calling her "that blogger".